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24 August 2017

Things to Watch out for in an Elderly Relative Following a Fall

Unfortunately, one of the
more common events in the lives of the elderly is a fall. Falling is considered
a non-event for most young people, but
the older you get, the more problematic it can become. This is because your muscles and
bone tissue are more fragile. When your elderly relative suffers a fall, it can
have lasting physical and mental effects on them, and it’s not always easy to
see what these could be. To give you a better idea of what to look out for,
we’ve got a few things to point out as indicators of underlying problems. For a
more complete list, click here.

Mental Health--

Mental health problems can be
tricky to spot at any age, but in older people it becomes less apparent because
they usually know how to control their emotions a lot more convincingly than
they otherwise might at a younger age. Many elderly people report a greater level of global anxiety
after a fall, and specifically cite a fear of another fall being at the center
of this. Unfortunately, the likelihood of a fall increases significantly after
the first one, so keeping an eye on the confidence and happiness of your
relative is essential.

Physical Health--

The physical health of your
loved one can also deteriorate, despite not having any immediately apparent
injuries from the fall itself. A lack of broken bones or apparent injuries
doesn’t mean there aren’t any, and a sense of shame or pride might keep your
loved one from asking for help if they are still in pain a few days later.
Insisting on a doctor’s visit and a physical checkup is key in ensuring that
your relative doesn’t have any internal injuries, or smaller broken bones.

Mobility--

The mobility of your loved
one can be affected by a fall, and not just in their physical body. Movement in
general, whether it be in a car, a scooter, or even public transport, can be
seriously restricted by fear of a follow-up fall, and your relative might be
neglecting appointments or needs such as food and medicine to avoid having to
travel away from their home, which they might consider to be a safe space.

Keeping an eye on these
things can mean that you’re more available to help your aged relative, and it
could mean the difference between follow-up falls or serious mental illness,
and a healthy, happy loved one. Don’t put off acting on these symptoms if you
spot them.

Quick Notes

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